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Jack's tips #10: HUD graphics - targeting
The "targeting circle" contains a bit more information than just "here's where your weapons are pointing."
Just outside of the main targeting circle, you'll find green arcs that indicate how much weapon energy you have available. The left and right sides of your ship have separate weapon energy supplies. Both can store the same amount, which is what is shown as the Energy stat for your ship. The left and right halves of the arc are separate, with each showing how much energy is currently available on that side.
Of course, if you're not using your weapons, the energy storage is at maximum for your current ship configuration, and both arcs will be the same size. Here are some examples of full energy storage.
100 Energy
150 Energy
200 Energy
250 Energy
300 Energy
As you fire a weapon, the energy arc on that side will shrink as energy is used, and then will grow back as the ship recharges the energy storage. Recharging takes somewhere around a second, and Recharge Booster mods can shorten that time. You don't need to wait for a full recharge before firing again as long as the energy arc is green.
However, if you completely drain the energy storage on one side, the arc will turn red on that side. When that happens, you will not be able to fire the weapon on that side until the energy storage has been completely recharged.
Red arc when energy is depleted (on left side in this example)
If you attempt to fire the weapon on a side that has a red arc (has depleted the energy storage), you'll be alerted by the word "Charging" in red on that side.
Attempted to fire while energy was depleted (on left side in this example)
The "Charging" text will often linger well after the recharging is actually done. You can fire again as soon as the red arc goes away. You don't need to wait for the word "Charging" to go away.
Red "Charging" text lingering even though energy has been fully recharged (weapon can be fired)
The main targeting circle changes color to indicate that a target that is within range of at least one of your weapons. Unlike the energy indicators, this circle doesn't have a left and right side. There is nothing to tell you when the target is within range of both of your weapons (that I know of, anyway).
Red circle indicates a valid target is within range
Green circle indicates a "friendly" is within range and being targeted